Thai senior official attends UNGA, meets Obama

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES, September 25 (TNA) - Thai Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow attends the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in the United States and, on the occasion, has met US President Barack Obama. Sihasak told TNA after attending the opening of the 69th Session of the UNGA at the UN headquarters in New York on September 24 (local time) that he informed the UN assembly of progress in Thailand's roadmap toward national reform and democracy, national economic plans and continual roles in foreign affairs. Sihasak said he is trying to arrange for bilateral meetings with Japanese, Indian and Chinese foreign ministers. Sihasak also said Thailand's address to this year's UN General Assembly, which ends on October 1, will focus on international missions for sustainable development after 2015, including poverty reduction, public education and health services. According to the senior official, he will also present Thailand's peace-keeping roles in Sudan, organization of the Asian Ministerial Conference in Disaster Risk Reduction and rice donations to Ebola-stricken Sierra Leone and Guinea. Regarding his meeting with the US President at the night of September 23 (local time), the senior Thai official revealed that he insisted on Thailand's adherence to the values of democracy, while Obama realized the importance of Thailand's internal security. (TNA)